I had the same stuff taken out and i had my cath taken out on friday and i was pooping monday. so hope that helps. I guess you just have ot wait for your body to get back to normal with out the cath. then poop comes

Hi Jenn, Welcome to the board and the RS, what you're experiencing is normal it takes a while for your system to kick start itself and pain killers can make you constipated, Try not to worry as this will make it worse, you could try eating figs or prunes.

I've been taking that Benefiber. Its wonderful. You can put on your food. It has sodium in it also so instead of salt I put fiber on it.

Thanks for the friendly advice, I haven't taken my percocet since being in the hospital..It didn't work for me, so I've been taking IB profin...I guess I'll give it a little more time..I'm just worried cuz I have had previous abdominal surgery as a baby for an abstructed bowel and don't want it to happen again....Thanks again and hope everyone is healing up nicely...I'm sure I'll post again soon...Jenn

Drink, drink, drink.  Juice, tea, water, etc. It really helps.
Good luck! Love, Katie.

Yes,Katie, you took the words out of my mouth! WATER! WATER! WATER! I actually have big 20 oz cups that are insulated and have lids if I chose to use them. (They are the only plastic things I use!!) I put 5 ruggerbands on the handle and move one up to the top each time I fill it. That makes me see if I need to step it up....get them in well before bed time due to tinkle all night issues!  I got the idea from one of the midwives who gave out cups with a dial that you turned with numbers on the cup to keep track.

I also have been doing the stool softeners since before surgery, 2xday and using a drinkable fiber laxative. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and am JUST feeling okay with the bowl issues. It took me a few days to go, too. But I start to get full feeling and then it starts to ache in my abdomin if I don't keep this up religiously! I still feel like I should go more but can't. Usually if I were using just the drink laxative I would be very soft and I am still "hard". Nothing but 800mg IB for 2 weeks.

So it is an issue and it can really add to the disconpfort if you get backed up at all!

Take it from someone who knows about this subject (since age 12), the ladies are right...lots of fluid, especially clear fluids.  The stool softeners are good, but don't do the trick for everyone.  Try flaxseed.  Sprinkle it on high fiber cereal or in oatmeal.  You might feel a bit gassy at first, but it will open up the "gateway" pretty quickly.  Also, on the hyster sisters website, someone posted a mixture that is supposed to work really well...applesauce, bran (ground, I think) and prune juice.  Should be paste-like, and you take 2 spoonfuls a day.  I am sure it is very gassy, also, but supposedly it works.  I intend to try this after my surgery this month.  Anyway, hope this helps some.  I know how crumby you probably feel, so I hope relief is in sight soon :)